The California Fruit and Vegetable Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) pilot project was initiated earlier this month to make fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable for low-income residents in Santa Clara County. This state-funded program provides CalFresh Food recipients with financial incentives of up to $60 every month for purchasing produce at select stores, according to Santa Clara County's official news.

Focused on combatting the rise of processed foods, critical in the diets of low-income families, the project lends support to local agriculture and promotes access to affordable and healthy food options. Several California counties have been involved in the program, curated and promoted by Santa Clara County's Social Services Agency and the County Department of Public Health. The objective, as outlined by the Agency Director, Daniel Little, is tackling the challenge of affordability, which usually results in limited access to nutritious choices for individuals with restricted incomes.

Five stores, in conjunction with the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR, a nonprofit public policy organization), have been incorporated into the program. The stores include:

• Arteaga’s Food Center, 2620 Alum Rock Ave., San José
• Arteaga’s Food Center, 1003 Lincoln Ave., San José
• Arteaga’s Food Center, 204 Willow St., San José
• Arteaga’s Food Center, 6909 Chestnut St., Gilroy
• Santa Fe Foods, 860 S. White Road, San José

The pilot project closely followed suit after a similar program called Double Up Food Bucks ended in June after a successful six-year stint. The group of community partners involved in the previous initiative also works on the current project and includes SPUR, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, Fair Food Network, and John Snow Inc.

Goals for the California Fruit and Vegetable EBT Pilot Project include a large-scale expansion seeking to cross the state borders, and an inclusion of a more diverse variety of stores. To put the project into action, participants receive up to $60 back for buying fruits and vegetables at the selected stores. This amount is credited to their EBT card and can be utilized for purchasing any eligible food items.